Classes with Respect to Drug Nomenclature

Drug nomenclature is the process of naming drugs, particularly pharmaceutical drugs. All drugs have three kinds of names: chemical names, IUPAC names, and generic or non-proprietary names. These names have different utilities in different fields. In a normal day-to-day conversation, pharmaceutical drugs are often called out by their generic names. 

IUPAC names are used when studying pharmaceutical drugs. However, the most important is the nonproprietary names of different drugs. They are also called the international non-proprietary names, which play an important role in trade and brand names. 

History of drug nomenclature

The generic nomenclature of drugs originated from city pharmacopoeias. Large-scale advances in the development of drugs were made during the 19th century. Thus, researchers and scientists found chemical nomenclature to be important in the research field and for the ease of understanding of the common masses. 

Drugs started to be named on the basis of atoms, functional groups, etc. Soon, the city pharmacopoeias united and formed national pharmacopoeias. 

In the year 1953, the WHO formulated the international non-proprietary name system of drug nomenclature, which is accepted on an international level. 

What must a classification system in nomenclature be like?

The classification system while naming a drug must be sorted out and easy. It must not be complex that can push people into a dilemma or get them confused about the names. An ideal classification system in nomenclature should have the below features:

• It must be devoid of any complexities. 
• It must be easy to comprehend. 
• Must be apt according to the drug.

Classes of drug nomenclature

Drugs are chiefly obtained from plants, animals, and marine organisms. Sometimes, the sources are minerals as well. Thus, depending on that, they can be organic or inorganic. The drugs are generally classified on the basis of the below points:

• Alphabetical order

Alphabetical order of classification is the simplest and easiest way of naming drugs. It is done keeping the English and Latin names of the drugs in mind. Also, different pharmacopoeias have different ways of naming drugs. 

Examples – Dill, Fennel, Gentian, etc.

• Taxonomical Classification

Under taxonomic classification, the drugs are classified on the basis of the kingdom of the plants they are derived from. Also, the classification is done based on subkingdoms, families, class, order, family, genus, and species. One of the greatest advantages of taxonomic classifications is that it helps in studying and understanding the revolutionary plants.

• Morphological classification

In the morphological classification of drugs, drugs are named according to their external features and characteristics and the part of the plant from which the drug is derived. The parts of the plant that are generally used are stems, roots, flowers, leaves, etc. For example, there are drugs obtained from the barks of plants like Ashoka, Cinchona, etc. The greatest perk of this classification is that adulteration in drugs can be easily identified.

• Pharmacological classification

The pharmacological classification of drugs is based on their chief therapeutic purpose, i.e., what purpose the drugs are used for in the medical field. This classification enables the therapists to suggest alternative drugs, in case the one that is required is unavailable.

• Chemical classification

The chemical classification for the nomenclature of drugs is based on the chemical composition of the drugs and their chief chemical compounds. The drugs with similar chemicals as their composing constituents are kept in the same group.

• Chemotaxonomical classification

The chemotaxonomic classification of drugs is based on the relationship between the constituents of different plants. Certain chemical compounds are the signature elements of some plants and help in understanding them. We can take an example of tropane alkaloids that are found among the members of the Solanaceae family. 

• Serotaxonomical classification

The utility of serology in solving taxonomic problems forms the very foundation of classification on the basis of serotaxonomy. Similarities as well as dissimilarities between different taxa can be easily studied using this classification system. The degree of similarity between two taxa can be assessed and brought under observation owing to this classification. 

Conclusion

Nomenclature plays an important role in assigning an identity to a particular thing, for it would be known among the masses with that name. Similarly, drug nomenclature is important as it helps in understanding a particular drug. 

Also, the name of the drug (especially pharmaceutical drugs) suggests its constituents and its purpose. Drug nomenclature helps therapists, scientists, and researchers in their respective fields. International nonproprietary names are the internationally accepted names of the drugs and are of vital importance in medical and research fields.